lawson



(Kb Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. LAWSON. SHIPS BBRTH.

1m 513,190. Patented Jan 23, 1894.

@alumdfmdw 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(-No Mode 1.)

E. LAWSON.

SHIPS BERTH.

Patented Jan. 23, 1894.

ma NATIONAL W/T/YESSES s ITED STATES EDWARD LAWSON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

SHIPS BERTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 513,190, dated January 23, 1894.

Application filed February 9, 1893. Serial No. 461,557. (No model.) Patented in England November 26, 1887, No. 16,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD LAWSON, 0 Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inor Relating to Ships and other Berths, (Case A,) (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 16,288, bearing date the 26th of November, 1887,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to berths of the class which are adapted to turn up into a vertical or approximately vertical position when not required for use, and when so turned up to leave a sufficient space, which is about six inches, for the bedding and bedclothes between the berth and the bulkhead 'or wall of the cabin or other apartment where the berth is fitted, and one object of theinvention is to construct berths of this class so that they shall be supported in their turned down or normal position after the manner of a cantilever from the bulkhead or wall, there being no pillars or like supports resting upon the floor, or any other supports attached to the cabin or apartment.

Another object is to provide a better connection between the berth frame and the brackets on the bulkhead or wall, so that the lower edge of the berth when turned up shall occupy a position neither higher nor lower than that of the bottom of the berth when turned down, while allowing sufficient space for the bedding between the turned up berth and the bulkhead or wall.

The invention consists in the construction of a berth which is adapted to turn up into a vertical or approximately vertical position with inclined rigid rods or struts one at each end of said berth, the outer end of each of said rods or struts being hinged or jointed to the end bar of the berth frame at the corresponding end of the berth, either at the outer end of the said bar or at a point intermediate between the outer and inner ends of same, and the inner end of each of said rods or struts bearing normally against, without being fixed directly to, a bracket on the bulkhead or wall, being adapted to alter its position relatively to said bracket as the berth is being turned up or down, whereby the rod is enabled to accommodate itself to the changing positions of the berth.

The invention further consists in the combination with a berth adapted to turn up into a vertical or approximately vertical position, and inclined rigid rods 0r struts hinged at their outer ends to the end bars of the berth frame and normally bearing at their inner ends against, without being fixed directly to brackets on the bulkhead or wall, of links or arms one end of which is hinged to the inner ends of said rods or struts and the other end to said brackets, whereby the rods or struts are enabled to accommodate themselves to the changing positions of said berth as it is being turned up or down.

The invention further consists in the combination in a berth adapted to turn upinto a vertical or approximately vertical position, of vertical pins standing up from the inner ends of the end bars of the berth frame to a height above said frame equal to half the space required for the bedding between the berth when turned up and the bulkhead or wall, gudgeons or pins, on which the berth pivots or turns, said gudgeons being at such a distance from the bulkhead or wall as is equal to the height of said vertical pins, that is to say to half the space required for the bedding when the berth is turned up, and arms or links, normally horizontal, connecting said vertical pics with said gudgeons, whereby when the berth is turned up its lower edge occupies a position neither higher nor lower than that ofxthe bottom of the berth when turned down, while sufficient space for the bedding is left between the berth when turned up and the bulkhead or wall.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a view of one end of a berth constructed according to my invention in its preferred form and showing the berth in its normal or turned down position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the same berth when turned up. Figs. 3 and iare views of one end of a berth of modified construction,and show the berth in its normal and turned up posithis bracket is shown as forming part of the bracket which carries the pin, gudgeon or center on which the berth turns as it is being moved up or down, but it may be a separate bracketif found more convenient. The inn er end of the rod or strut b is not fixed to the bracket (1, but is hinged at f to thelower end of a link c the upper end of which is hinged at f to a lug g on the bracket. The distance of the hingef from the bulkhead is about equal to half the distance of the strut b from the bulkhead when the berth is turned up, as

in Fig. 2, so that the greatest possible space is given below the turned up berth to receive the berth below when turned up, and the berths can therefore be placed as near together as can be possibly arranged. his the pin or gudgeon upon which the berth turns; it is attached to the bracket at about three inches from the bulkhead, that is to say at the end of a lug or projection 6 about three inches long. The pin or gudgeon his connected by a link or arm is which is normally horizontal, to a vertical pin Z, about three inches high standing up from the end bar a of the berth frame.

The figures show the fittings at one end of the berth only 3 it willof course be understood that there are similar fittings at the other end of the berth.

When the berth is in its normal position as seen in Fig. 1, the rods or struts I) extend in an inclined direction from the outer part of theberth frame a down to the brackets d against which their inner ends bear, and the berth is thereby firmly supported in a horizontal position, the brackets receiving the thrust and thereby relieving the links e; the brackets may be lined with rubber or other material to receive the shock should the berth be hurriedly lowered. To turn the berth up it is only necessary to lift it by its outer side, when its inner side will turn upon the supporting pins or gudgeons h until the vertical position is reached as seen in Fig. 2. During this movement the links 6, connecting the'inner ends of the struts b to the brackets will turn upon their upper joints f and will thus allow the struts to participate in the upward movement of the berth and to finally take up a Vertical or nearly vertical position in line with the end bars a of the berth frame. When the berth is turned up on the pivots h into the vertical position the links or arms is move down into a vertical position while the vertical pins t assume a horizontal position. The length of these pins added to the distance of the pivots from the bulkhead makes up the width of about sixinches required for the bedding, while as the pivots divide these six inchesinto two equal parts the lower edge of the berth when turned up is on the same level as when the berth is down.

The modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the position of the hinge f 4 of thelink or arm 6 and in the length of this link and in the shape of the link and the bracket 12 The modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the position of the hingef of the link or arm 6 in the length of this link, in the shape of the bracket d and in the fact thatthe vertical pin Z is pivoted directly to the lug or projection i on the bracket 01. These figures also show a folding lee rail 1' which, however, forms no part of this invention. 3 represents the wire mattress or sacking constituting the berth bottom.

In the modification shown in Figs..7 and 8 the inclined rod or strut b is attached to the end bar a of the berth frame at about the middle of the length of the said bar instead of at the outer end of said baras in the modifications shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

The construction of the parts of the berth shown in Figs. 7 and 8 differs slightly from that shown in the other figures of the drawings. In Figs. 7 and 8 the bars are lettered a", the struts b", the outer hinged ends thereof 0 the bracket 01 the inner hinged ends of the struts f", the links 6 the upper hinged ends thereof f the gudgeon on which the berth turns 71 the projection carrying this gudgeon i and the vertical pin Z.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the inclined rod or strut b is attached to the end bar a as in the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the inner end of said rod or strut is not hinged to links as in the modifications shown in Figs. 1 to 8, but it carries a pin m which is normally at the bottom of a slot n in the bracket d, and as the berth is being turned up moves up said slot and thereby allows the rod or strut to participate in the upward movement.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the outer hinged end of the strut is lettered c", the bracket is lettered d", the gudgeon is lettered h", the projection carrying it is lettered i and the vertical pin is lettered Z.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a berth turning up into an approximately vertical position, the combination with the berth frame, of brackets on the wall which carries the berth, and inclined rigid rods, one at each end of the berth, hingedat their outer ends to the berth frame, extending thence inwardly and downwardly, and movably bearing at their inner ends against brackets, the inner ends of said inclined rods moving relatively to said last mentioned brackets to alter the position of said rods as the berth is being turned up or down, whereby said rods rise with the berth as it is turned up and descend with the berthas it is turned down, substantially as set forth.

2. In a berth turning up into an approximately vertical position, the combination with the berth frame, and brackets on the wall which carries said berth, of inclined rigid rods, one at each end of said berth, hinged at their outer ends to the end bars of the berth frame, extending thence inwardly and downwardly, and movably bearing-at their inner ends against brackets, and links hinged at one end to the inner ends of said rods, and hinged at the other end to said last mentioned brackets, whereby-said rods are enabled to rise with the berth as it is being turned up and descendwith it as it is being turned down, substantially as set forth.

3. In a berth turning up into an approximately vertical position, the combination with the berth frame and supporting projections therefor, of vertical pins standing up from the inner ends of the berth frame to a'height above said frame equal to halfthe space required for the bedding between the berth posed within the inner edge of the berth frame, and rearwardly extending links, horizontal when the berth is turned down, connecting said vertical pins with said gudgeons,

whereby when the berth is turned up its lower edge occupies the same vertical position as that of the bottom of the berth when turned down, and sufficient space for the bedding is left between the berth when turned up and the wall, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD LAWSON.

Y Witnesses: ARTHUR HENRY FORTE, solli'c'igor, 13 En'nelos Hill, Birmingham, Eng- G. A. C. PETTETT,

.Ht's Clerk. 

